Shoes
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Topo Athletic Mountain Racer 3
Price- $150
Weight- ~10.4 oz (men's 10.5)
I've now used Topo’s Mountain Racers on my last three thru-hikes and most of my traditional backpacking for over three years. I found the Mountain Racers before the Hayduke in 2024, and after a few hundred training miles, I knew I had my next shoe. They feature a 33mm stack height in the heel and a 5mm drop to the toe, giving the shoe plenty of cushion without feeling too plush or unstable. The proprietary ZIP-Foam midsoles feel great underfoot, with a good balance of cushion, responsiveness and durability. Everything considered, they're easily my favorite long-distance hikers to date.
The Good- The lack of a rock plate allows the shoe to retain an incredibly nimble feel and excellent ground feedback, which I deeply appreciated during high-consequence scrambling on the Hayduke. The uppers are remarkably durable—I haven't put a single hole in them yet. Additionally, the Vibram Megagrip outsole is long-lasting, and the 4.5mm lugs are aggressive enough for slick mud but stable on firm sandstone or pavement.
The Bad- Without a rock plate, you will definitely notice a bit of foot fatigue after 10+ miles of continuous, sharp gravel, but that’s not a regular thing. Actually, I only have one very specific memory of this becoming an issue; hiking out of the Grand Canyon on an off-trail route up Kanab Creek that had a cumulative 30 miles of dry river bed gravel hiked over a day and a half. My feet were screaming, but that was probably unavoidable at this point in our Hayduke hike, regardless of shoe choice!
The soft liner around the ankle also tends to wear through after about 500 miles of hard use. Lastly, while the signature wide toe box and looser overall fit are my preferred setup for hiking, the feel can get a little sloppy if you try to run and turn aggressively in them.
(Above- seen here in Mango (great color, thanks Topo!) on Moose at the AZT monument before heading south to the Grand Canyon and below descending the Nankoweap "Trail" into the canyon)
Altra Lone Peak 8
Price- $140
Weight- ~9.1 oz (women's)
Bugs has used the last several generations of the Lone Peaks for over 3,000 miles of combined hiking. They retain Altra's classic "zero-drop" platform, meaning there is no difference in cushion height between the heel and the toe. These are easily the most common shoes seen on long-distance hikers in America—and for good reason. When foot comfort is an essential part of your daily existence, this line is incredibly hard to beat.
The Good- The signature "foot shape" (now called the “original” shape) wide toe box is a lifesaver for anyone with wider feet. The lower stack height delivers a highly flexible, natural feel with excellent ground connection. There is a woven rock plate on top of the midsole that still delivers pretty good foot protection despite the thinner cushion.
Altra has also steadily improved the durability of the uppers, and the latest 9+ version steps things up with a rugged Vibram Megagrip outsole built to handle hundreds of miles of tough terrain.
The Bad- Historically, older generations suffered from premature wear and tearing in the uppers (though recent versions have significantly remedied this flaw). Additionally, the zero-drop design can require a careful transition period to avoid calf or Achilles strain if you are used to traditional shoes.
(Lone Peak 8's seen on Bugs on the Hayduke following an alternate through Bryce Canyon National Park)
